Project Coordinator

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

• Support integrated implementation of global policy frameworks on human mobility, climate change action and disaster risk reduction that are relevant for disaster displaced persons;
• Promote policy and normative development to address gaps in the protection of persons at risk of displacement or displaced across borders;
• Facilitate exchange of knowledge and strengthen capacity at the national and regional levels to implement effective practices and instruments that can prevent, reduce and address disaster displacement;
• Strengthen evidence and data on disaster displacement and its impacts.

To support the PDD Objectives, in November 2021, UNOPS and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation [Norad](referred to as ‘donor’ hereunder) signed a grant agreement for the implementation of a project on “Action and support to avert, minimize and address displacement related to the adverse effects of climate change”. The overall objective of this joint project is to enhance action and support for measures aimed at averting, minimizing and addressing displacement related to the adverse effects of climate change, including through developing a better understanding of displacement in the context of climate change as loss and damage. The overall approach is situated within the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 2015 Paris Agreement, including the work of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM), its Task Force on Displacement (TFD), and the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage (SNLD).

More specifically, the project is set up to have one global component with a focus on research and analysis, policy development and engagement, and communication, but will primarily be implemented in five countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and disaster displacement. The project is set up to consist of an inception period of 6 months and an implementation period of 30 months. During the inception period, individual country needs will be identified and developed based on consultations, needs assessment, priority-setting and development of country-specific National Project Plans (NPP) setting out the workplans for each pilot country, for the implementation phase. Consultations during the inception phase will take place within the national context, as well as through relevant mechanisms for collaboration and coordination in the UNFCCC framework. 

The objective of this assignment is to provide project management and coordination support to the PDD Secretariat to implement and deliver required activities during the inception period of the project in line with the purpose outlined above as well as contribute to the elaboration of a project management structure that will guide the implementation of the project from 1 June 2022 until 30 November 2024. 

Overall responsibility for coordination and implementation and coordination of this project will be with the PDD Secretariat (hosted by UNOPS).

Further background and detailed information on the project proposal, the scope and the working environment/support structure of the assignment can be obtained by contacting the PDD Secretariat directly at info@disasterdisplacement.org 

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the PDD Secretariat and with support of the PDD Secretariat and PDD Regional Advisers, the Project Coordinator will be responsible for the following activities and tasks during the inception period of the project:

I. Project Governance 

• Based on pre-project and ongoing consultations, lead establishment of a Project Management Committee (PMC), including drafting and development of PMC Governance tools (e.g. Terms of Reference); 

• Serve as the Secretary of the PMC and convene PMC meetings as appropriate and applicable during the inception period.

• Lead the preparation and drafting of background documents for an annual consultation with representatives of the Donor, UNOPS, the PDD Secretariat and partners (scheduled for May 2022).

II. Project Coordination 

• Coordinate with project partners and support the organization of in-country national stakeholder consultations.

• Based on the outcomes of the national consultations, coordinate and lead the drafting of National Project Plans (NPPs) based on country-specific needs, gaps and priorities, and draft corresponding Results Frameworks and Project Budgets.

• Coordinate and lead the development of an overall Project Work Plan, Result Framework and Budget, incorporating NPPs and corresponding budgets for each country.

• Prepare and support the organization of a Global Stakeholder Workshop in Geneva, Switzerland during the inception period  (Covid-19 pandemic situation permitting, otherwise virtual).

III. Knowledge Development and Communication  

• Support overall project management and work with the PDD Secretariat to facilitate the successful completion of tasks ranging from background research to information and communication-related activities.

• In close coordination with the PDD Secretariat Communication Officer and project partners, support drafting of an overall Project Communication Strategy and country-specific National Communication Plans. 

• Attend relevant meetings (Covid-19 pandemic situation permitting) and consult with relevant stakeholders as appropriate; 

At the end of the assignment, the incumbent is expected to have delivered and/or supported the delivery of:

• Establishment of Project Management Committee (PMC)

• A detailed overall Project Work Plan, Results Framework and Budget

• National Project Plans with corresponding Results Frameworks and Budgets for each country

• Draft Project Communication Strategy and country specific Communication Plans; 

• A Master’s degree in a relevant area of International Law, International Relations or Political Science or a  closely related field. A Bachelor’s degree in these areas can be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree, with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience.

Essential

• A minimum of 5 years (or more based on educational credentials) of work experience in project management and coordination in one or more of the following areas: displacement, forced migration, international migration, international protection, climate change adaptation/climate change policy, loss and damage, disaster risk reduction and management and/or human rights;
• Experience in managing donor relationships, including preparing donor reports.
• Experience in project management, drafting workplans, budgets and results frameworks
• Experience designing, convening and coordinating workshops/consultations

Desirable

• Familiarity with the UN system and mandates
• Familiarity with the Nansen Initiative/ Platform on Disaster Displacement
• Familiarity with the UNFCCC including the Warsaw International Mechanism Task Force on Displacement
• Experience in intergovernmental settings and experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder and inter-agency processes

Languages

• Fluency in written and oral English is required. French and/or  Spanish and other UN languages are an asset.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  
• Geneva is a Family Duty Station. 
• This position is based in Switzerland and is not exempt from Swiss laws, including but not limited to laws regarding taxation, social security, accident and health insurance

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.